Inflation Anxiety,
Effect on Stocks
Spark Trading

NEW YORK -- The major stock benchmarks held steady Friday, but trading in the option market pointed to a brooding unease about rising inflation and how that might affect stock prices.

Economic data showed one measure of producer prices climbing unexpectedly, which fanned fears that the Federal Reserve may raise interest rates more zealously to fight inflation. Adding to the anxiety were comments made earlier last week by Fed Chairman...